Why am I a Catholic? Good question. It certainly didn’t start that way. I was raised as a Southern Baptist. My parents were not very tolerant of Catholics actually. I remember when I was small my mom told me I couldn’t play with my little Catholic friend anymore. I didn’t understand, but I had no choice in the matter.
I am a Christian though. I walked up the aisle when I was only seven years of age and told the preacher I wanted to be saved. We prayed and he introduced me to the church and declared little Stevie Holder had accepted Jesus, and there were “Amens” all over the place.
I also love the focus on Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. Not a lot of sermons on attitudes and beliefs, but the basic truth that we are all sinners and we have a Savior in Jesus Christ.
I love the icons, also. They tend to reach an area of my subconscious in a way that I don’t really understand. I just know it feels good.
I love the homilies that tend to be more relevant than some Protestant preachers long-winded sermons.
I love their respect for tradition instead of just looking at scripture. To me, both are important.
However, they do sometimes go too far with Mary when she is referred to as a co-redeemer, or granter of divine grace. Only Christ is our Redeemer and giver of divine grace.
They are legalistic with their insistence that every good Catholic will go to Mass every time it is held, or they commit a mortal sin. I don’t believe that. I suppose some would say I am not a good Catholic. Oh well.
I don’t care much for their over attention to prayers to saints. I have no objections to asking the saints to intervene as petitioners but some people take it too far, as if they are worshiping the saints themselves. That is just wrong.
I am not convinced of the literal changing of the wine and bread into the actual blood and body of Christ. However, most Catholics don’t really believe it either.
Priests are sometimes not friendly, but that is true of people in general. Some folks are just unfriendly.
I think they focus too much on their ideas of mortal sin. That comes across as a bit too self-righteous to me.
All things considered, I remain a Catholic and I make no apologies about that. God led me to it, and He doesn’t make mistakes.
Can I get an Amen?
Steve Holder 